N E W S Metropolitan commercial TV met content quotas Programming requirements ACMA recently published its 2006 with Network Ten scoring 335 The Australian Content Standard and local content compliance results, points in all markets, the Seven Children’s Television Standards for commercial television specify: with all metropolitan commercial Network averaging 303 points and • Australian programs must make up at least 55 per cent of all programming television licensees reporting that the Nine Network averaging 268 broadcast by a licensee between 6.00 am and midnight each year they met the Australian points. • a licensee must broadcast at least 20 hours of first release Australian transmission quota and content The metropolitan networks also documentary programs each year requirements of the Australian met all the quota requirements for • a licensee must broadcast at least 260 hours of children’s (C) programs each year Content Standard and Children’s children’s programs in 2006, with • a licensee must broadcast at least 130 hours of first release Australian C Television Standards for 2006. QTQ Brisbane of the Nine Network programs (50 per cent of total C requirement) each year All licensees exceeded the fulfilling its undertaking to • a licensee must broadcast in the C band at least eight hours of repeat Australian minimum 55 per cent Australian broadcast an additional 30 minutes C drama programs each year transmission quota—the Nine of preschool children’s (P) program • a licensee must broadcast at least 130 hours of Australian preschool (P) Network achieved more than during 2006 to make up for a programs each year 66 per cent in the Sydney, shortfall during 2005. • annual drama requirement—the drama scores for all first release Australian Melbourne and Brisbane The compliance results for 2006 drama programs broadcast by a licensee in prime time in any year must total at metropolitan markets, Network Ten are on the ACMA website at least 250 averaged nearly 60 per cent in the www.acma.gov.au (go to For the • three-year drama requirement—the drama scores for all first release Australian five mainland state capital cities public: Content & advertising > drama programs broadcast by a licensee in prime time must be at least 860 over and the Seven Network averaged Broadcasting: About broadcasting three years about 56 per cent in those markets. content controls > TV content & • annual requirement C drama—a licensee must broadcast at least 25 hours of first All metropolitan commercial advertising > TV content release Australian children’s drama programs each year and network licensees met the annual requirements > Australian content • three-year requirement C drama—a licensee must broadcast in each three-year requirement of 250 points for first > Australian content compliance period at least 96 hours of first release Australian children’s drama. release Australian drama programs, results). HDTV quota exceeded by more than 25 per cent All free-to-air television broadcasters the production of programs in high 2006, the SBS converted all the provides for broadcasters to meet reported that they exceeded their definition quality video. programs on its main channel to a HDTV quota standards. Each quota requirements in 2006 for the Commercial television high definition format (although its commercial or national television broadcast of high definition television broadcasters are required to screen World News Channel was only broadcasting service in a mainland (HDTV) programs on their digital HDTV programs produced in high broadcast in standard definition). The metropolitan area is required to services by at least 26 per cent. definition format to meet the quota. ABC converted all its programming transmit a quota of 1,040 hours of The HDTV quota of 1,040 hours Popular prime-time programs to a high definition format from HDTV programming per calendar per calendar year was introduced in broadcast in high definition in 2006 9 February 2006. year from 1 July 2003. The HDTV 2003 for national and commercial included House on the Ten Network, All regional digital services have obligations for broadcasters in non- television broadcasters as part of the Home and Away on the Seven now started HDTV broadcasts, apart remote areas commenced two years conversion from analog to digital Network and McLeod’s Daughters on from the digital-only service in after they began broadcasting in transmission that is currently under the Nine Network. Mildura (MDV), which is required to digital mode. way in Australia. The ABC and the SBS are start HDTV programming in January The number of HDTV hours Digital services allow broadcasters permitted to convert their analog or 2008. broadcast by national and to provide significantly enhanced standard definition digital programs Part 4 of Schedule 4 to the commercial television in mainland picture clarity and quality, through to high definition digital format. In Broadcasting Services Act 1992 metropolitan areas for 2004 to 2006 are shown in the table. Number of HDTV hours broadcast by national and commercial television Compliance figures for individual broadcasters in mainland metropolitan areas, 2004 to 2006 broadcasters, including regional Broadcasters HDTV hours (range) 2004 HDTV hours (range) 2005 HDTV hours (range) 2006 licensees, are on the ACMA website ABC 1,758 2,456 7,601 at www.acma.gov.au (go to For Nine Network 1,349–1,371 1,817–1,842 1,760–1,812 licensees & industry: Licensing & SBS 6,550 6,888 7,310 regulation > Broadcasting: Seven Network 1,442–1,463 1,566–1,642 2,087–2,144 Broadcasting licensing > HDTV quota Ten Network 1,071 1,274 1,318 compliance). ACMAsphere | Issue 21 – July 2007 5.